Crimping machine



D- 30, 1930. .1. M. CHRISTMAN 1,787,142

CRIMLING MACHINE Filed'Nov. 25., 1927' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gmenlfoi L/bHN P1 CHRIS TMHJV.

Dec. 30, 1930.

CRIMPI NG MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1927 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmwntoz L/UHN [7. CW5 TMHN.

J. M. CHRISTMAN 1,787,142

Patented Dec. 30, 1930 1 1m EM. I surnames"esteem, IyiiCHIGAhT', nss enon To P CKARD Mogioacnn 7 comparison nn'rnoirr, ivriorrrean fn coerce-Arron or MICHIGAN fenimrme ivrAcrrmn a plication fileanoi emterfaa; 1927. Seria1 na'ae'aa'sl.

This invention relates to'crimping machines and more particularlyto machines for crimping retaining members ontothe ends of coil springs.

An object of the invention to prolvidea machine for rolling; cylindrical members to' reduce the diameter thereof. i o

Another object of the invention is vto pro vide a machine for crimping fiangeson cylin- 1Q drical members'having grooves for. the reg ception of the end coils of helical springs, to

partly iclose theigrooves and thereby retain the coils'therein. .m v

Anotherobject of the invention is topro- 15, vide a crimping machine having work supporting devices and a rotatable member and a fixed member coacting therewith to effectively crimp or peen the work pieces carried I on the support devices. Another object ofthe' invention'is to provide a crimpingmachine comprising a rotatable crimpingmember and fixed crimping members positioned eccentrically thereto so that' thecooperating faces ofithe' crimping members will provide an'arcnate slot gradually decreasing incross section.

pact structure wherein a rotatable member is operated through asuitable source of motive power to coact with a plurality of arcuatc members arranged to provide anarc of considerable length eccentrically adjusted to the rotatable member, with one or more of the arcuate members yieldably supported and a rotatable work supporting head carrying a plurality of work supporting devices positioned intermediate the rotatable member and the arcuate members.

.A vstill further feature of my invention-is.

to-provide acrimping machine which has the advantages of a positive action, is highly efliclentain operation and yet of marked simplicity, as a whole in respect to each of its component parts so that its manufacture is economically facilitated, both with regard to parts and their assembly; I

Other'objects ."of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection-with the drawings which form apart of this specification and in Which: a i

Fig. l is a front elevation, a Fig. 2 isavertical sectional View taken substantially on line 22, Fig.1, and

Fig 3 is a? longitudinal sectional view of a doublecoil spring and the retaining members therefor; a a

Referring by numerals to thedrawings; 10

Y represents a base plate supported in any suitable manner such as by a pedestal or, as shown, by a plurality of, legs 11. Bolted or otherwise secured upon the base is a frame l2-having bearing portions 13' and 14. A

l1011sing-l5 is arranged intermediate the 'bearingportionslS-andlkand a radial V flange, 16 is forme'd'integral with the bearing portion 13. This.;fiange is provided with an arcuate rim 17 formed normal thereto'and of suflicient width to provide a deep recess 18. ,The bearing portions are bored as indicated at 19 and 20, the bores being in axial alinenient with respect to each other and with respect to the arcuate rim 17; The bore 19 is somewhat larger than A,

the bore 20 and is fitted with a sleeve or collar-21, the inner diameter of which is equal to'the diameterofthebore 20. This sleeveisprovidedflwith a radialflange' 22 bolted to the bearing portion 13 to retain suitably journaled as indicated at 29 and provided with a pulley 30. The pulley tween each pair ofjlugsw-38iandis limitedin. its movement. by: ..a transverse pin 41. in the 1 free endsv of the. arms have formed integral therewith and'normal. thereto sleeves43 1n;

Any suitable clutch for disengaging the drive may be employed or the machine may be controlled. throughthe motor. The sleeve 21 has rotatably" mounted thereupon a work supporting head 85 securediagainstf axial movement by thekfiange 22 and'the plate 36 pinned or otherwisesecured on. the

end of the sleeve. This work supporting head is positioned,within-therecess,18iandis in. the form of a disk having an enlarged rim 37 formedzwith radial.lugs. 38..arranged:. in pairs. and equally spaced as shown in.

Fig.1. An arm 39. is pivoted! as. at. 40 be+ lugs engaging a slot- 42: intl1efarm. The

which are mounted work. holding devices to be hereinafter. described;

The Shaft 251mg reduced; end; 44 threaded-to receive a. nut 45.= .A disk'46is keyed upon the Jreducedend portionfofthe 7 c v The assembled: spring: unit comprises two shaft and further.- secured in' position by the nut/15. AThis disk is provided with an upon the face of: the rim 17in thesame annular shouldered portion 47 on which is:

secured by bolts 48 an annular member-49 of hardened'steel. constituting a rotatable crimping. member'adaptable for cooperation with a series of fixed crimping members 50;

The. crimping members 50 are mounted plane with a rotatable crimping member 49.

. As shown, each crimping member 50 comprisesa plate of hardened. steel having an arcuate-edge. 51 andLan oppositely disposed annular member 49 and is made adjustablethereto byv means. of the .slo.ts.53 and stud bolts 54 and the plate is secured inv adjusted position by set bolts.55 engagingthe..-.polyg.-v onal fedge. 52;.the set. boltsibeingmounted brackets or arms 56 formed upon :the rim.

polygonal edge 52. The plate is further provided with a plurality of slots 53 adapted toreceive stud bolts 54 threaded in the face of-the rim 17. Thearcuate edge 51 is positioned opposite the peripheral face of'the The. crimping members 50 are arranged end to end to'provide an arc of considerable -to.-the other.

length which is adjusted ec'centricallyto the periphery of the annular rotatablecrimping member providing bet-ween.- the Y arcuate edges ol of the fixed crimping members 50 and the peripheral face. of'theannular meme ber 49'an arcuate groove or channel57-which gradually diminishes infwidth. from onelend The lastimember in the series Mountedalternately in the sleeves 43 on the, free, ends of the arm 39 is a bushing 61 having mounted therein aspindle 62 with a reducedendportion 63,'anda sleevein-tw'o sections 64 a'nd 65, botliof'which are secured inthesleeve 43in a fixed position. The sleeve 64 has 'apartitidn '66 apertured to receive and-to provide aguidefor a spindle 67 and to serve as an abutment for one end of a coil spring 68 wound upon the spindle with its other. end bearing against: a pin 69, posi tioned transversely inuthe. spindle. YTihis:

spindle is further supported and guided by a. bushing 7 Q securedin the sleeve section 65.

One end of'the spindle; 672 isprovided with a pin71 passing through the diameter thereof and suitably secured in position and a. re-

duced end portion 72; Tshe other endof the.

spindle is reduced and fitted; withiwashers 73 between which isimounted'a. ball: bearing disk.74 adaptable fonengagement with a stop 75 arranged on the frame. The spindles 62- and 67 project throughandmeyondthe slot 5 a i sectionsofihelical coils 76and 77ofs11bstantially. the same diameter arrangedcoaxially.

between retainers 7 and 7 9;'one ofwhich, the retainer 7 8,- has a, diametral slot-80. adapted for; the 1 reception of akey: and 1 an intu-rned. shoulder with-an integralsleevev or collar 81. Theretainers78' and 7 9- are cylindrical mem- V hers, each having on its periphery a double sp'iralzgroove 82adapted to receivethe respec tive end coils of 'thespring sectionsand to retain thesame in theirproper angular position. Intermediate the. double spiral grooves I the, sleeve81-aonthe-retaining member 78 and when it is desired to crimp the retaining member 78; this, member is=v slipped on the spindle'67', thereduced endportion 72 on the spindle engaging the sleeve 81'withth'e; pin 71 in the spindle engaging the diametral slot in the retaining member78.

Assuming that: power has. been, applied to, the machine andthat the spring units have been placed upon thespindles; 62% and 67 as;

1-,7s7,142fe hereinabove described,4the'disk 46 Carrying the annular crimping member 49 is mounted upon and rotated by. the shaft :25 driven by a wormzgear26 whichiin turn 'isdriven by a. worm gear 27 on the sh'ait 28connected to the,

source-of motive power; With the :disk46 rotating slowly, making approximately one revolution perminute, the work supporting head is rotated to advance the spring units upon the spindles 62 and-67 into the receiving end offthet slot:57 where the retaining members78 andJZQ are caught between the an nular rotatable crimping member 49. and the stationary or fixed: crimping membersv 50. The work supporting head carryingthe spindles'62 and 67 has nopositivedrive but is rotated slowly by a drag on.- the spindles ex-= .ertedby' the workmounted thereon engaging the crimping members49 'and'50, consti.

tuting, as it were; a clutch between these elements;'.- The slot 57 has a gradu altaper from its receiving end to its discharge end, the taper being formed by the eccentric position of the member 49, to the arcuate faces of the members 50. As the retaining members 78 and 7 9 enter the slot 57 they are caused to revolve by the .rotation of the annular rotatable crimping member and in the rotation of these members they travel through the slot 57 and are graduallypressedbetween the.

faces of the stationary or fixed crimping members and the periphery of theiannu lar crimping member 49 and in .the course of travel the pressure. onthe retaining members becomes greater and serves to'peen or roll the lips or edges 83 against theend coils of the springs 7 6and 77 with suflici ent pressure to secure the coils in the retainers in their proper relation. In order that the pressure between the crimping members will notbe too great and to allow for-slightvariances the last one or more of the fixed crimping'members 50 is yieldably mounted, and to provide for the ready removal of the spring units from'the spindle 67, this spindle is provided with 'a kick-off device adapted to engage a stop'immediately upon the spindle passing through the discharge end of the slot. As the spindles "pass through. the discharge end of the slot the arms 39 through the weightoi the sleeves upon .the free ends thereof and the spindles supported therein drop sufii ciently to=disengage the retaining members i iromtheperiphery of the annular crimping members, the drop being limited In this position the'spring units may be readily removed or placed upon the spindles for operation therupon.

' Although this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodi- 'ments, the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other applications that will.

readily occur to persons skilled in the art.

The inventionnis therefore to be limited only.

. as "indicated-by the scope of the appended claims,

nular rotatable member, an arcuatemember.

positioned eccentricall'y thereto, a work supporting head and work holdingdevices on the Work'supporting'head intermedlate the rota? able memberv and the arcuate member. A

'3.' Acrimpirg machine comprising' an an-.

nular rotatable, member, means for driving the rotatable member, an arcuate member'positioned eccentrically to the rotatable mem-' her, a work supporting head mounted forrotation .on the same axis: with the rotatable member and work holding devices carried by said Work sup-porting head and extending between said rotatable member and arcuate;

member. .1

4.1 A crimping machine comprising an annular rotatable member, means for driving the rotatable member; an arcuate member positionedeccentricallyto the rotatable member, means for yieldably retaining the arcuate member in position, a work supporting head and work holding devices carried by the head between the rotatable member and the arcuate member.-

5; Aj'crimping machine comprising anannular rotatable member, means for driving therotatablemember, an arcuate member positioned eccentrically to the rotatable memher, a worksupporting head mounted for rotation adjacent to the rotatable memberand work holding devices arranged in spaced relation on the work'supporting head and extendingbetween the rotatable member and the arcuatemembeixq 6. A crimping machine comprising an annular rotatable member, means for driving the rotatable member, an arcuate member yieldingly supported eccentrically to the rotatable member and a rotatable work sup portingheadi for supporting workpieces between the rotatable member and the arcuate member.

7. A crimping machine comprising an annular rotatable member, means for driving the rotatable member, an arcuate .member yieldingly supported eccentri cally to the rotatable? member, a work; supportingzhead journaled for rotation'on thesame axis with the rotatable member, work holding devices pivoted on the work supporting'head 'and extending between the rot'atablemember and the arcuate member. l w

Having thus described the. various tea-- 8i Aecrimpi-ngmachine: comprising: an annular rotatable member, means for driving the rotatable member, a plurality of. arcuate members: positioned eccentrically; to the-rd;

tatable member,.- one or more of the; arcuate 1nember-s: y1eld1ngly secured in 1308111011,: a

worlr supporting head andnmeans carried'bv the head ton supporting Work pieces be-. tween'the: rotatable member and the arcuate member. 7 v

9. A crimpingzmachme comprising an annular rotatable member and means for driving the same, arcuate members supported eccentrica-llyftothe rotatable member and means for adjusting. the arcuate members radially, one or more .oflthe arcuate members being yieldingly supported, a WOIk support ing head-J mounted for rotation on the-same axis With'and adjacent totherotatable memher and Work holdingdevices mountedi onthe Work supporting head for oscillatory-move- I mentbetweenthe rotatable member and the arcuatemembers. V a

; 10. crlmpingma-chinecomprising anannular rotatablei member, an arcuate member:

mounted eccentrically thereto for cooperation there-With, a Work-supporting head mounted for rotation adjacent to the rotatable mem frame, arshaft mounted thereon, an annular 'membercarried'bv-the shaft, an arcuate member supported by the frame eccentrically With Work holding-l devices pivoted-upon the head" a respect to the rotatable member, a \vork'supporting: head i journaled upon the framefor rotation: independent of the shaft, a'plurality of work holding 'devices on the Work supporting head mounted for oscillatory and rotatable-movementbetween the rotatable member and the arcuate member. I

12. A crimping machine comprising aframe, a sleeve mounted" on the frame, a shaft in the sleeve, an annul ar membercar ried by the shaft, a ring uponthe annular member; an arcuatemember supported on the frame eccentrically-to the ring, a Worksupporting head: jou'rnaled upon the sleeve,

for oscillatory and rotatable movement between the annular member and the 4 'arcuate member.

13.A1 crimping machine: comprising a frame having-an arcuate flange, a sleeve on the'frame concentric to the arcuate flange, a shaft-journaled in'the sleeve, an annular member keyed' on-the shaft, a ring carried by theannularmember, a plurality of arcuate members font the flange, one" or more of the 'arcuate 'm'embersbeing yielding-1y supportied, a Work? supporting head 'journaled' upon the sleeve adjacent to the annular-'member mm; r42:

; beneath; the? arcuate: fiaiigmiwork holding; de-

devices mounted thereupon. and projecting between the arcuate member an d'the' rotate able member and means: tor ejecting work pieces from-e the: work holding devices;

15. In a; crimping: machine,- the combinae tion of a fixed arcuatemember; an annular rotatable member journaled eccentrically thereto in 'spaeedrelation to provide an arcuate-convergingislot', a i Wonk supporting. head rotatabliy" mounted;- ad-j ateent tov'the; annularrotating member, spindles carried by. theworkisupportingaheadfor supporting work pieces im the slot? and 'means for rotating the annular" member. 7 j w 7 16,. I'ma crimping maehine, tlie'Tcombinas tion: offa fixedz'arrcuate claim-ping member and annular rotating crimpingmember mountedseecentricallytlrereto and inl spaoedzwrelzrtion, a Work supporting; head: having. work? holding devices: thereon projecting 1 between the arcuate-crlmpmgmembe'nand the annular rotatable crimpingjmember and a trip-means forejecting-workpiecesfrom the work-Hold ing devices.

17.; In a 'crnnpingamachaneg a work sup".-

porting 3 head comprising an annular mem ber mounted for'rotation, arms pivoted upon the: periphery of the annularmember, mea us:

for limitingthe-movementof the arms; means piece tronrt-hei' support; i

v 18;"In aJCrimping'maChine, a worksupporting head comprising a. hub portioma web portionlan'dia rimcportion, a plurality of lugs upon the rimarran ed in pairs inzspaced relation arms-pivoted etweeii each pair of:

lugs, means forlimiting the movement of the arms, work 'holdingidevices upon the ends of the arms and means for*ejecting'work-pieces tromthearms;

in the sleeves and means for actuating the" Work holding-devices for ejectingwiork pieces supportedthereon:

20. A method for securing: helical springs to retaining members comprising-crimping the retaining membersaupon theend" coils of" the-spring? byrolling. the spring? and re- 19. A' crimping machine comprising an e taining member through a converging slot. 21. A method for securing helical springs to retaining members comprising passing an assembled spring and retaining member 1 through a converging arcuate slot whereby the retaining member is deformed for clamping the end coils of the spring.

22. A method for securing helical springs to retaining members comprising assembling a spring and retaining member and rotating the assembly through a converging arcuate slot and rotating one of the side Walls of the slot whereby the retaining members are deformed to clamp the end coils of the spring.

23. A method for securing double helical springs to cylindrical retaining members having spiral grooves for the reception of the end coils of the springs, by assembling the springs and retaining members and rotating the assembly through a converging arcuate slot, for deforming the retaining members to clamp the springs in the grooves therein.

24. A method of securing coil springs to retaining members Which comprises screwing the end turns of the spring into the retainingmember, and crimping said member on said end'turns.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature. I

JOHN M.'CHRISTMAN. 

